On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: Hansen’s Sno Bliz

Today, October 3rd 2015, marks the last day of sno ball season in New Orleans.

Yes, there will be sno ball stands still operating across the city after today. Some will even be serving til Thanksgiving, just like Hansen’s Sno Bliz used to do.

But not anymore.

Ashley Hansen Laughing Her Way Through Another Shift

Today is Hansen’s last day. Of course they’ll reopen in the Spring but since I only eat Hansen’s it matters little. I’ll still be larding up over the course of the Winter; just not from Hansen’s.

I ask Ashley Hansen, granddaughter of Mary and Ernest Hansen (the founders of the business) what she plans to do in the off season?

“What are you doing in the off season?” she replies with a mischievous look. I explain that I’m an old school Clydesdale-type who never takes a day off.

Exterior Of Hansen’s Sno Bliz

“Well, I’ve got two kids so I get to be mom for the next few months-I’ll do a lot of cooking”

“Do you still eat sno balls?”

“Oh yeah, at least one per day”

“What if it gets real hot”

Years Of Happy Eaters At Hansen’s Sno Bliz

“Oh, I might eat seven or so” she laughs.

I love this woman.

“What’s your favorite flavor?”

“Ginger, we make everything from scratch and it’s my favorite”

Outsider Art Inside Hansen’s Sno Bliz

This was later reiterated to me by a nice lady sitting outside who was taking down a massive ginger sno ball.

“Ashley recommended this flavor to me and I haven’t been able to get off it since.”

I’m deep in the throes of a bananas foster sno ball. I sit in a monastic silence contemplating the history of Chiquita bananas and New Orleans. When the company announced their return to our city Ashley was inspired to create a dessert/homage to the conglomerate.